La Vuelta 2017: Chris Froome maintains lead over Vincenzo Nibali as Thomas De Gendt claims stage 19 victory
Belgian rider wins sprint finish keeping Spaniards waiting for a stage victory in their home race
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Chris Froome retained his advantage on stage 19 of La Vuelta as Belgian Thomas De Gendt won a sprint finish out of the breakaway to keep Spaniards waiting for a stage victory in their home race.
Team Sky's Froome, bidding to become the first man to win the Tour de France and Vuelta in the same season since 1978, remains one minute and 37 seconds clear of Bahrain-Merida's Vincenzo Nibali after the pair crossed the line within the main pack at the end of the 149.7km stage from Parque Natural de Redes to Gijon.
While the breakaway was contesting stage honours up ahead, three-time Vuelta winner Alberto Contador had attacked out of the pack of main favourites on the final climb, the Alto de San Martin de Huerces, in a bid to improve his podium chances in his final professional race.
The Spaniard, who sits fifth, three minutes and 34 seconds down and 77 seconds off the podium places, crested the climb one minute ahead of the other contenders but despite picking up the help of Trek-Segafredo team-mate Edward Theuns, he was caught by the peloton on the streets of Gijon.
The day's 21-man breakaway were let off the leash by the Team Sky-controlled peloton early in the day, building a lead of more than 15 minutes.
Bahrain-Merida's Ivan Garcia, conscious that Spain is running out of time to avoid a repeat of 1996 - the only other time in the 72-year history there has been no home stage winner in the Vuelta - attacked on the final climb but was soon joined by AG2R La Mondiale's Romain Bardet.
Counter-attacks followed from the break as Irishman Nicolas Roche (BMC) and former world champion Rui Costa (Team UAE Emirates) joined the party, but by the time they arrived in Gijon, much of the rest of the break had caught up.
That set up a sprint finish and it was Lotto-Soudal's De Gendt that took the win ahead of Trek-Segafredo's Jarlinson Pantano, with Garcia having to settle for third.
The battle for red will now be decided on Saturday, when the peloton face a 117.5km stage from Corvero de Asturias which will conclude on the brutal climb to the finish at Alto de l'Angliru, where Bradley Wiggins surrendered the race lead in 2011.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments